PAWTUCKET — Every winter, many struggling Rhode Island families must decide whether to put food on the table or pay their utility bills.
Millie, a 95 year-old St. Theresa Church parishioner who lives with her 54 year-old developmentally disabled son, receives a heating oil bill every six weeks during the colder months that is more than her monthly social security check.
“They are at the poverty level with their income,” noted the woman’s daughter Susan, who lives out of state and travels periodically to Rhode Island to coordinate her mother’s affairs.
“They are both medically fragile,” she continued, adding that an unheated home could eventually lead to the pair’s deaths. “They are both compromised in terms of their respiratory functions.”
Susan emphasized that the recent award of 100 gallons of home heating oil that her mother received from the “Keep the Heat On” campaign was “a life saver.
“It’s a one day at-a-time situation,” Susan said.
“We look at the oil gauge, we look at the bank balance . ... We keep our fingers crossed.”
The grateful daughter acknowledged that she learned about the program from the oil man, who knew about her mother’s financial situation and suggested some programs that provide heating assistance to those less fortunate.
“There are so many people in the same situation,” Susan acknowledged. “Resources are so expensive.” She added that despite wearing several layers of sweaters during the winter months, her mother is always cold.
She estimated that it costs about $800 for a tank of heating oil, which usually lasts about six weeks depending on the weather.
“That’s more than her monthly check and that’s just one bill,” Susan lamented.
“I think if you’re not in the position, you can’t know how grateful we are for this fund being available,” she added.
Jim Jahnz, coordinator of the “Keep the Heat On” campaign, noted the importance of the fund.
“Cases like these are the ones that Bishop Tobin established “Keep the Heat On” for,” he said.?“Without “Keep the Heat On,” this mother and her son would be without heat,” he emphasized.
“It’s really important for us to support the fund in order to help Rhode Island households like this one,” Jahnz said.
To apply for assistance through “Keep the Heat On,” call 421-7833 or log on to www.heatri.com. Donations in the form of a check can be made payable to the Interfaith Dire Emergency Fund, 184 Broad St., Providence, R.I. 02903.
Keep The Heat On Donations
Saints Rose & Clement Parishioners $3,000.00
New England Patriots Foundation 2,500.00
Mr. John B. Monk 1,000.00
Holy Family Church Interfaith Service 975.00
The McHale Family Foundation 500.00
Anonymous 500.00
In Memory of James & Violet
Mr. & Mrs. Reppucci 500.00
The Most Rev. Thomas J. Tobin 462.00
Ms. Theresa L. McQuade 400.00
Portsmouth Abbey School Students 320.00
Ms. Judeth A. Crowley 250.00
Mr. & Mrs. James Bierden 220.00
Anonymous 200.00
Mr. J. Raymond Vadnais 200.00
Mr. William F. Casey 200.00
Mrs. Rose P. McHale 150.00
In Memory of Joe McHale
Rev. Giacomo Capoverdi 100.00
Mercymount Country Day School
For Bishop-elect Robert Evans 100.00
Ms. Ann Ardente 100.00
Ms. Esther Ardente 100.00
Ms. Carol Ann Nelson, A.I.A. 100.00
In Memory of Laurance A. Read
Mr. & Mrs. James J. Dandeneau 100.00
Mr. Joseph E. Sirois 100.00
Ms. Rosemarie Cabral 100.00
Mr. & Mrs. Paul F. O'Malley 100.00
Mr. & Mrs. William E. Schenck 100.00
Dr. Daniel S. Harrop 100.00
Mr. & Mrs. John H. Beck 100.00
Ms. Jeanne M. Vandermost 100.00
Ms. Lorraine E. Ledlie 100.00
Mr. & Mrs. Ramzi J. Loqa 100.00
Mr. Roger Messier 100.00
Mrs. Marguerite Allen 100.00
In Memory of Jimmy Allen
Mr. & Mrs. Leo A. Brosseau 100.00
Mrs. M. S. Krakoff 100.00
Anonymous 75.00
Mr. J. R. Ouellette 50.00
Mr. & Mrs. Dan Egan 50.00
Mr. J. R. Ouellette 50.00
Mr. & Mrs. John W. Flynn 50.00
Ms. Tonia C. Papitto 50.00
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Carr 50.00
Ms. Alicia M. Roy 50.00
Mr. Francis X. Roy 50.00
Ms. Adrienne R. McIntosh 50.00
Mr. & Mrs. John J. McCarthy 50.00
Ms. Barbara St. John 50.00
In Memory of Robert St. John
Mr. & Mrs. Anthony G. D'Ordine 50.00
Mr. & Mrs. John F. Brady 50.00
Ms. Mary D. Bowen 35.00
In Memory of Mark
Ms. Anne R. Wright 30.00
Ms. Annette L. Fay 25.00
Mr. & Mrs. Francis J. O'Connor 25.00
Anonymous 25.00
Mr. & Mrs. Mike Speidel 25.00
Ms. Aline B. Frappier 25.00
Ms. Joan M. Dion 25.00
Mr. & Mrs. John W. Hewitt 25.00
Ms. Evelyn F. Jones 25.00
Ms. Concetta M. Conte 10.00
Mrs. Mary Anne Sumner 10.00
14,287.00
